Special prosecutor to take over Grand Traverse jail suicide case

A special prosecutor will handle a jail suicide case in Grand Traverse County. The state attorney general has appointed the Antrim County prosecutor to take over.

Alan Halloway hanged himself in the Grand Traverse County jail last summer. An investigation by Michigan State Police found that corrections officers violated multiple policies and procedures. For example, it took officers three hours to find Halloway dead in his cell; they were supposed to check him every hour.

In December, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Bob Cooney said a special prosecutor should take the case because he could appear partial. Cooney has advised the county in a lawsuit related to the suicide, and he charged Halloway with attempted murder last summer.

Now, the Antrim County Prosecutor takes over the case and will likely determine if corrections officers should be charged for misconduct.

This summer a man hanged himself to death in the Grand Traverse County jail. Officers found Alan Halloway dead in his cell in July. It took three hours for corrections officers to discover his body. Officers were supposed to check Halloway's cell every hour, but did not do so, according to a report by the Michigan Sheriffs Association.

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IPR reporter Morgan Springer talks about claims against Grand Traverse County following the suicide and what actions the county has taken.